Central College vs. McPherson College

Should I go to Central College or McPherson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central College or McPherson College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Central College vs. McPherson College comparison
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Central College
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Overview

 Central College McPherson College
Location Pella, IA McPherson, KS
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,169 822
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #519
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America Church of Brethren - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu mcpherson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central College McPherson College
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $32,494
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $32,494
Room & Board $10,860 $9,918
Avg Net Price $23,303 $25,065
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $21,916
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Central College McPherson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 1,445
Admitted 1,561 952
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 65.9%
Enrolled % 22.5% 26.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 17/23
SAT Range 1040/1218 908/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

 Central College McPherson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 Central College McPherson College
Graduation Rate 63% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

 Central College McPherson College
% Men 52% 67%
% Women 48% 33%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 87% 70%
% Black 2% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 Central College McPherson College
% In-State 73% 31%
% Out-of-State 26% 62%

Campus

 Central College McPherson College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central College is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (1,169 students vs. 822 students)

Central College vs. McPherson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or McPherson College?

  • McPherson College is 64.1% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($32,494.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.1% higher at McPherson College than Central College ($32,494.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than McPherson College ($23,303 vs. $25,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McPherson College are 9.5% lower than costs at Central College ($9,918 vs. $10,860)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central College as McPherson College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 99.3% larger than aid received Central College ($21,916 vs. $10,999)

Central College vs. McPherson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central College or McPherson College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between McPherson College or Central College .

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 128 points higher than at McPherson College (940)
  • Incoming Central College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at McPherson College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than McPherson College (65.9%)

Central College vs. McPherson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or McPherson College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between McPherson College and Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than McPherson College (63% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $3,800 more per year than McPherson College graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $44,200)
  • McPherson College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • McPherson College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McPherson College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/